E.646 - DRIVER CONSOLLE

English Version

The E.625 and E.626 series electric locomotives were the first 3,000-volt direct-current traction vehicles to be built and put into service by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane between 1927 and 1939. They represent the longest-serving class of locomotives ever on the Italian railway network, remaining in regular commercial service with FS for a full 72 years, with the last E.626 being retired in 1999.

The mechanical design was developed by the team led by engineer Giuseppe Bianchi of the FS Rolling Stock and Traction Service in Florence, the “founding father” of today’s Italian railway system and of many historic locomotives; At the specific request of the railways, the new locomotives were to have six driving axles to better distribute the locomotive’s weight on the lines of the time—which were equipped with light track—and to improve traction on uphill gradients.

With the adoption of direct current across the entire network, the E.626 series emerged as the ideal “workhorse” for the railway modernization effort. With 448 units built across three main series plus the prototypes—albeit with slight differences in their electromechanical systems—the E.626 series was designed with simple, durable, and standardized solutions to simplify repairs in the event of a breakdown.

Some details:

• Design years: 1953–1958
• Construction years: 1958–1967
• Years in service: 1958–2009
• Quantity produced: 235
• Length: 18,290 mm
• Width: 3,013 mm
• Height: 4,296 mm
• Wheelbase (bogie centers): 13,550 mm
• Bogie wheelbase: 2,580 mm (Prototypes: 3,150 mm)
• Weight in service: 110 t
• Adhesive weight: 110 t
• Wheel arrangement: Bo'Bo'Bo'
• Driving wheel diameter (new): 1,250 mm
• Gear ratio: 25/64
• Maximum tractive effort: 164 kN
• Starting tractive effort: 248 kN

Pubblicazioni correlate:

Biblioteca Ferrovie Arrugginite